Improved play lightens 49ers’ somber mood

Eric Mangini has certainly been amiable enough with the media this season, but the 49ers’ defensive coordinator was downright jocular Thursday.

When a reporter joked that Mangini was once a “TV star” (Mangini was an ESPN analyst from 2011-12), he didn’t break stride and noted the larger-than-usual media crowd that had assembled for his weekly news conference.

“Look at how well it’s worked,” Mangini said, scanning the audience. “Everybody shows up. They can’t wait to be here. I do standup on Thursday nights.”

The light moment was a marked contrast from earlier in the season when it was only somber in Santa Clara. Now? The 49ers’ record (4-8) is still unsightly entering Sunday’s date with the Browns (2-10), but there’s reason for Mangini and his colleagues — most notably head coach Jim Tomsula — to smile.

After a 2-6 opening filled with blowouts and bad body language, the 49ers have been more competitive and unified. Their step from awful to OK is likely enough for CEO Jed York to retain Tomsula and much of his staff, a group that looked comically overmatched when the 49ers lost five games by at least 14 points in a 42-day span.

York continues to be pilloried for parting with Jim Harbaugh and handpicking a longtime defensive line coach to replace a former Coach of the Year. If it was a mistake, as many still believe, York’s not eager to admit it after one season. In other words, he’s looking for reasons to keep Tomsula, and the 49ers are now providing reasons to justify staying the course.

The 49ers have won two of their past four games — a stretch that also includes a six-point loss to Arizona (11-2) — and influential leaders who once looked miffed now appear engaged. Early in the season, inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman was visibly frustrated when teammates were out of position, and wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith were flinging their arms in frustration at quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s wayward passes.

49ers head coach Jim Tomsula‘s modest success is giving the owners reasons to stay the course.

49ers head coach Jim Tomsula‘s modest success is giving the owners reasons to stay the course.

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

49ers head coach Jim Tomsula‘s modest success is giving the owners reasons to stay the course.

49ers head coach Jim Tomsula‘s modest success is giving the owners reasons to stay the course.

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

Improved play lightens 49ers’ somber mood

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

However, the 49ers have since pulled together instead of falling apart.

It’s helped that guys now have tangible reasons for hope. Bowman and the rest of the defense have shown signs of grasping Mangini’s complex scheme: The 49ers have allowed less than 5.1 yards per play in three of their past four games, a feat they managed once in the 2-6 start.

Meanwhile, quarterback Blaine Gabbert hasn’t produced Pro Bowl numbers since replacing Kaepernick, but he has looked far more comfortable directing the offense. Gabbert has flashed a far quicker release and a knack for sidestepping pressure, which explains why the 49ers have allowed just eight sacks in his four starts (28 in Kaepernick’s eight starts).

The 49ers are averaging 17.3 points and 323.3 yards with Gabbert (13.6 and 281 with Kaepernick), but numbers can’t completely capture his influence. Boldin said Gabbert has “earned the right and privilege to be a starter in this league,” and referenced his talent and intangibles in explaining why.

“I see him having fun out there,” Boldin said. “And I see a guy that can make every throw. I see a guy that’s going through his reads. I see a guy that’s got great camaraderie with his teammates. Guys believe in him. Guys have confidence in him. When you have a guy playing like that, a guy people want to play for, a guy who people trust, there’s no telling what he can do.”

The stage is set for the 49ers to create some momentum entering 2016. Their final four games include dates with the Browns, Lions and Rams, who have a combined 10-26 record.

First up is Cleveland, which has lost seven games straight and 15 of their past 17, dating to last year. Mangini, whom the Browns fired after he went 10-22 from 2009-10, is intimately familiar with the tortured history of Cleveland, which hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2002.

And Mangini was in a mood to joke about his role in it when asked about 49ers placekicker Phil Dawson, who was in Cleveland when Mangini was the head coach. How did he explain the close connection between Dawson and the Browns’ fans?

Said Mangini: “I probably contributed a little bit because we had to kick so many field goals when I was there.”

Spotlight on: Punter Bradley Pinion: This season, the rookie has routinely been compared with his predecessor, Andy Lee, who will be on the same field Sunday. The 49ers surprised many by selecting Pinion — the only punter drafted — in the fifth round and subsequently trading Lee to the Browns. Pinion hasn’t immediately filled Lee’s sizable cleats, but he has shown signs of progress in recent weeks. Pinion ranks 24th in the NFL in gross average (44.6) and 13th in net (39.9). Lee ranks sixth (47.3) and 12th (40.4), respectively.